Ski press



June 11, 1963 w. L. DANIEL 3,093,384

SKI PRESS Filed April 20, 1961 8 Fig. 4

Fig.5

Wayne L. Daniel IN VEN TOR.

BY $001M 3% United States Patent 3,093,384 SKI PRESS Wayne L. Daniel, 1925 Madison, Paducah, Ky. Filed Apr. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 104,270 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-1157) This invention relates to a novel and useful ski press and more particularly to a ski press specifically adapted for storing and/ or transporting a pair of skis with each ski supported in a manner whereby the camber or bow of the ski and the curvature of its toe will be preserved and warping will be prevented or may be corrected.

Many skiers have experienced the misfortune of having their skis lose their camber or curvature throughout the main body of the portion and the curvature of their toe portions. If a pair of skis is allowed to lie in storage in a loose manner, temperature and humidity changes can tend to straighten and/ or warp both the main body portions of the skis and the upwardly curving toe portions of the skis. It is of course important that the camber and the curvature of the toe portions of the skis are maintained for maximum performance while skiing. If a pair of skis are allowed to lie loose in storage, it not only is possible that they will lose their camber and toe curvature, or warp but skis stored in this manner are more likely to incur damage from rough treatment.

In some cases skiers will merely secure straps around each pair of ends when the skis are disposed with their bottom surfaces in abutting relation and it is still possible that skis stored in this manner may lose their camber and toe curvature. In some cases, a spacer block will be disposed between the confronting spaced midportions of skis which have had their corresponding ends strapped together and in this manner it is assured that the camber of the skis will be maintained. However, it is also necessary that means he provided for maintaining the curvature of the toes of the skis.

The main object of this invention is to provide a ski press which will provide a convenient means for storing and/or transporting a pair of skis in a manner whereby the camber and curvature of the toe portions of the skis will be preserved.

A further object of this invention in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a ski press which will be readily adaptable to skis of varying lengths.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski press which will be capable of restoring the camber of a pair of skis and the original curvature of the toe portions after some of the camber of the skis has been lost and the toe portions have been straightened slightly.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a ski press which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economical-1y feasible, long lasting and an asset to substantially all skiers including beginners as well as professionals.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the ski press shown with a pair of skis clampingly secured thereto and with the ski press adjusted in a manner to maintain the camber of the skis and the curvature of the toe portions of the skis;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 1 as seen from the left side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the toe portion 3,093,384 Patented June 11, 1963 ice of the ski press shown with the hingedly mounted arms thereof in collapsed positions, parts of the ski press being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55' of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the ski press of the instant invention which includes an elongated spine member generally referred to by the reference numeral 12. The spine member 12 is provided with substantially fiat opposite side surfaces 14 and 16. A pair of clamp assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 18 and 20' are substantially identical and are carried by the remote end portions of the spine member 14. Each of the clamp assemblies 1S and 20 includes a pair of U-shaped mounting members 22 and 24 whose free ends are pointed as at 26, see FIGURE 6, and embedded in the narrow sides 28 and 30 of the spine member 12 which interconnect the surfaces 14 and 16'. A strap member generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 34 on one end and a buckle assembly 36 on the other end is disposed about the opposite ends of the spine member 12 and passed beneath the bight portions of the U-shaped members 22 and 24 on that end of the spine member. The straps 32 are utilized to strap corresponding ends of the skis 38 and 44 to spine member 12 as illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The skis 38 and 40 each include a bowed center portion 4-2 and an upwardly curving forward toe portion 44. The skis 38 and 40 have their lower surfaces 46 in tight frictional engagement with the surfaces 14 and 16 of the opposite ends of the spine member 12 and a camber or spacing block assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 48 is carried by the midportion of the spine 12 and maintains the bowed middle portions 42 of the skis 38 and 40 in spaced apart relation.

A pair of arm members 50 and 52 are pivotally secured at one end to the forward end of the spine member 12 by means of hinges 54 and 56. Each of the free ends of the arms 50 and 52 has an internally threaded bushing member 5'8 pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin 60 and the threads in the internally threaded bushings 58 are oppositely threaded relative to each other and a screw shaft generally referred to by the reference numeral 62 having oppositely threaded end portions 64 and 66 has its opposite end portions threadedly engaged in the bushings 58. The shaft 62 is provided with an enlarged head portion 68 for effecting rotation of the shaft 62. As can be best seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings the screw shaft 62 is rotated to extend the free ends of the arms 54) and 52 outwardly away from each other to engage the lower surfaces of the curved toe portions 4-4 of the skis 38 and 4%. In this manner, while the forward ends of the main body portions of the skis 38 and 4d are clampingly secured against movement away from each other by means of the clamp assembly 20, the arms 50 and 52 may be positioned to maintain the proper curvature of the toe portions 44.

The camber block assembly 48 includes a pair of block members 70 which are secured together by means of suitable dowel pins 72. The spine member 12 is provided with a pair of parallel and longitudinally extending guide slots 73 in which the dowel pins 72 are slidably disposed whereby the camber block assembly 48 may be adjusted longitudinally of the spine member 12.

A C-shaped channel member generally designated by the reference numeral 74 and provided with free end portions 76 which are substantially aligned is secured to the surface 28 of the spine member 12 in any convenient manner. A handle member 78 having a pair of mounting flanges 80 is slidingly mounted in the channel member 74 by means of the flanges 30 slidingly disposed in the channel member 74. The handle member 73 may be secured in adjusted position longitudinally of the channel member 74 by means of setscrews 82 threadedly engaged in the flanges 80 and positioned to abut the base 34 of the channel member 74, see FIGURE 4.

In this manner, the handle member 78 may be adjustably positioned longitudinally of the spine member 12 in order to compensate for various lengths of skis being clamped to the spine member 12, which various length skis would elfect a change in the center of gravity of the spine member 12. Accordingly, the handle member 78 may be adjusted to lie in a transverse plane also containing the center of gravity of the spine member 12.

It is believed that it will be readily appreciated that the clamp members 32 may be readily slid longitudinally of the spine member 12 a limited distance defined between the legs of the U-shaped members 22 and 24 and also that the camber block assembly 48 may be adjusted longitudinally of the spine member 12, In this manner, while the curved toe portions of the pair of skis are engaged with the arms 50 and 52, the remainder or intermediate portion and opposite end of the spine member 12 may be adjusted for various length skis.

With a pair of skis clamped in the ski press 10, warpage may be prevented and slight warpage may be corrected by the insertion of shims between points of contact between the skis and between the skis and the ski press 10. Further, the block members 70 may each be made extensible by utilizing a pair of side-by-side partially overlapped blocks with one being provided with a pair of parallel slots and the other provided with a pair of bores registrable with said slots with fasteners passed and secured through said registered bores and slots for retaining said blocks in surface-to-surface contacting frictional engagement with each other. In this manner, camber of the skis may be increased or decreased as desired. Still further, the camber of the skis may be increased by inserting shims between the block members 70 and the skis 38 and 40.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ski press for providing a convenient means for storing and/or transporting a pair of skis with each ski supported in a manner whereby the camber and curvature of its toe will be preserved, said ski press comprising an elongated spine member including opposite longitudinal surfaces adapted to be abutted by the under surfaces of a pair of skis, clamp means carried by opposite end portions of said spine members adapted to clampingly engage corresponding end portions of a pair of skis to opposite ends of said spine, and abutment means slidably mounted on said spine intermediate its opposite ends for longitudinal movement therealong and projecting outwardly beyond said longitudinal surfaces adapted for engagement with the under-surfaces of a pair of skis clamped to said spine intermediate their opposite ends whereby said skis will be clamped to said spine in a bowed state thereby preserving the camber of the skis, and prevent warping or correcting slight warping, spreader means on one end of said spine member adapted to engage the undersurfaces of the curved toe portions of a pair of skis clamped to said spine member adjacent the tips thereof and to urge said tips away from each other whereby the desired curvature of said toe portions may be maintained, said spreader means including a pair of panel-like arm members, means pivotally securing corresponding ends of said arm members to one end of said spine member for movement about parallel axes with the arm members being movable between retracted positions disposed in side-by-side relation having their remote surfaces forming continuations of said opposite longitudinal surfaces and extended positions with said arm members diverging apart at their free ends and away from opposite sides of the longitudinal medial plane of said spine member disposed between said longitudinal surfaces to form positioning abutment surfaces for the undersurfaces of the forward toe portions of a pair of skis and to properly longitudinally position a pair of skis on said spine member when said arm members are in the extended positions, a pair of oppositely internally threaded axially alignable bushings pivotally secured to the free ends of said arm members for rotation about axes generally paralleling the first mentioned axes and extending at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said bushings, and a screw shaft having its opposite end portions oppositely threaded and threadedly engaged in said bushings.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamp means are slidably and adjustably mounted on said spine for movement longitudinally therealong.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a handle, means mounting said handle on said spine intermediate opposite ends thereof for providing a means whereby said spine and axis clamped thereto may be conveniently carried.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said mounting means includes means for adjustably positioning said handle longitudinally of said spine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,036 Butler Aug. 23, 1938 2,156,867 Refsland May 2, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 409,531 Germany Feb. 12, 1925 537,884 Germany Nov. 7, 1931 702,104 Germany Jan. 30, 1941 54,521 Norway Oct. 22, 1934 111,905 Sweden Sept. 19, 1944 

1. A SKI PRESS FOR PROVIDING A CONVENIENT MEANS FOR STORING AND/OR TRANSPORTING A PAIR OF SKIS WITH EACH SKI SUPPORTED IN A MANNER WHEREBY THE CHAMBER AND CURVATURE OF ITS TOE WILL BE PRESERVED, SAID SKI PRESS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SPINE MEMBER INCLUDING OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL SURFACES ADAPTED TO BE ABUTTED BY THE UNDER SURFACES OF A PAIR OF SKIS, CLAMP MEANS CARRIED BY OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID SPINE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO CLAMPINGLY ENGAGE CORRESPONDING END PORTIONS OF A PAIR OF SKIS TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPINE, AND ABUTMENT MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINE INTERMEDIATE ITS OPPOSITE ENDS FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID LONGITUDINAL SURFACES ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDER-SURFACES OF A PAIR OF SKIS CLAMPED TO SAID SPINE INTERMEDIATE THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS WHEREBY SAID SKIS WILL BE CLAMPED TO SAID SPINE IN A BOWED STATE THEREBY PRESERVING THE CHAMBER OF THE SKIS, AND PREVENT WARPING OR CORRECTING SLIGHT WARPING, SPREADER MEANS ON ONE END OF SAID SPINE MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSURFACES OF THE CURVED TOE PORTIONS OF A PAIR OF SKIS CLAMPED TO SAID SPINE MEMBER ADJACENT THE TIPS THEREOF AND TO URGE SAID TIPS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE DESIRED CURVATURE OF SAID TOE PORTIONS MAY BE MAINTAINED, SAID SPREADER MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF PANEL-LIKE ARM MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID ARM MEMBERS TO ONE END OF SAID SPINE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT PARALLEL AXES WITH THE ARM MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITIONS DISPOSED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION HAVING THEIR REMOTE SURFACES FORMING CONTINUATIONS OF SAID OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL SURFACES AND EXTENDED POSITIONS WITH SAID ARM MEMBERS DIVERGING APART AT THEIR FREE ENDS AND AWAY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONGITUDINAL MEDIAL PLANE OF SAID SPINE MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID LONGITUDINAL SURFACES TO FORM POSITIONING ABUTMENT SURFACES FOR THE UNDERSURFACES OF THE FORWARD TOE PORTIONS OF A PAIR OF SKIS AND TO PROPERLY LONGITUDINALLY POSITION A PAIR OF SKIS ON SAID SPINE MEMBER WHEN SAID ARM MEMBERS ARE IN THE EXTENDED POSITIONS, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY INTERNALLY THREADED AXIALLY ALIGNABLE BUSHINGS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE FREE ENDS OF SAID ARM MEMBERS FOR ROTATION ABOUT AXES GENERALLY PARALLELING THE FIRST MENTIONED AXES AND EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID BUSHINGS, AND A SCREW SHAFT HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OPPOSITELY THREADED AND THREADEDLY ENGAGED IN SAID BUSHINGS. 